This is lafuturasrat's Black Wedding!

My life, that is!

I wanted to make one last post on here to let any brides who followed me know that there is life after divorce!!!

Don't get me wrong - it was incredibly difficult to go through. I had some serious, serious lows...but with my divorced finalized and the marriage annuled...and of course hindsight being 20/20, I now realize what a poor choice it was to marry him in the first place...and yet, poor choices make for the BEST learning experiences.

So here I am on the other side to let you know that despite what I've been through, life is good!

If you're interested, you can find 'the new me' at my new blog!

I look forward to seeing you all there! <3

I won't get into details, but I wanted to let you know that our marriage is ending. It's been a really sad several months for me but I now realize that it is what it is and that there's nothing to do but accept it.

I don't regret any of the time I spent with Luis or the experiences we had together. I wish him the best and I'm dreaming of one day finding my Prince Charming and living my 'happily ever after'...

Thank you girls for all your support - you are amazing. Best wishes to all those still planning and those sharing their lives with their partners...

This is la(soon-to-be-ex)senoraT signing off...

Hi ladies!

I am wondering, for those DW brides...

Are you planning to wear the same dress to the wedding and the at-home reception?

Is it considered tacky to do so?

I want pics with my grandparents in my pretty dress, for example, but know that they won't be able to handle a trip to Mexico for the wedding itself...what are your thoughts?

Acceptable or inappropro?

If you are doing - or did - a destination wedding...how do you decide who to invite? Should you invite *everyone*, knowing that 90% don't show? Or do you invite *just the most important* and risk hurting feelings?

Any insight would be GREATLY appreciated!

About a week ago, several of my friends and fellow immigrant wives were featured in a recent news article entitled “American-born wives married to U.S. deported or banned spouses band together via online networks”. Many of the comments made about the article were ignorant, uninformed and some were downright mean. One commenter even wrote that "…a woman (can be so desperate she) would marry a ham sandwich…" In response, my friend Emily, or The Real Housewife of Ciudad Juarez, as she calls herself, wrote a blog called: “25 Things I Love About My Ham Sandwich”. In response, a number of other immigrant wife bloggers wrote similar lists and I decided that, in solidarity, I will post one myself. But while Luis is a fan of ham sandwiches, I felt there had to be some more appropriate food to compare him to…and then it came to me! So without further ado:

25 Things I Love About My Taco Al Pastor

1. He’s incredibly handsome. Like, ‘classic good looks’ handsome. Everyone says so. =)

2. He’s got a big heart. Just recently when a coworker showed up at work with a suitcase and nowhere to go, he called and asked if he could stay with us for a few days until he got some things figured out. I said yes, so we must be kindred spirits that way.

3. He’s bilingual and bicultural. He’s as comfortable singing along to bachata as he is rapping along to Lil Wayne. He’s always been interested in US culture and we discuss culture a lot at home. I really love that he is so into understanding where I am from.

4. He’s very intelligent. When we met, we barely spoke English. Within about a year, he spoke English so well that some people couldn’t even tell he wasn’t a native speaker.

5. He’s a hard worker. During the time we dated and even now, he’s held a number of different jobs. He’s done everything from cashier to driver/appliance delivery – sometimes working up to 18 hours a day. He is humble and will take any (moral) job he can get if we are in need of money.

6. He’s an awesome cook. His taquitos and guacamole are TO DIE FOR! And I get them anytime I want =P

7. He stood by me through my darkest time. Right after we met, I was diagnosed with a brain tumor after suffering from severe headaches for several months. My prognosis was unclear and I told him he could leave if he wanted, since I knew it would be drama. He stayed by my side through everything and now, with a clean bill of health, I’ll never forget how he supported me.

8. He’s got a great, silly sense of humor. He’s always making jokes or plays on words and he finishes with a silly ‘eyebrow bounce’ that never fails to make me laugh.

9. He loves all different kinds of food. Our favorites are sushi and Indian food, but we'll both try anything once!

10. He’s not machista, which is a gem to find in a Latino man. He’s man enough to be okay with me being the breadwinner at times. Not typical for Mexican culture, but he handles it well.

11. He apologizes when he screws up. I know a lot of men (and people in general) who never say they are sorry, which makes me love him all the more for owning up to his mistakes.

12. He’s open-minded; socially, politically and intellectually.

13. He does the things that I like to do with me, even if he doesn’t love to do them. Like dancing! We took a Latin dance class together, just because I wanted to, even though he’s ‘not that kind of Mexican’!

14. He’s interested in politics and world affairs. We love to watch The Daily Show and Colbert Report together!

15. He’s very family-oriented. He has no problem drinking a couple of beers with my dad or talking over coffee with my grandparents. The family loves him and he loves them!

16. He’s not afraid to ask questions if he doesn’t know about/understand something. It takes a certain dignified humility to admit you don’t know something, and he has it!

17. He’s dedicated. He recently started working in the restaurant business; a new venture for him. Since then, he has been promoted several times and often spends extra time at work ‘perfecting’ a new skill he needs to learn for the job. Sometimes I think this is a negative because I don’t see him as much as I’d like to, but dedication is certainly an asset in a partner.

18. He’s imperfect. I know, I know. Why is this on a ‘why I love him’ list?! Well, because we are ALL imperfect. If he was the perfect man who always did everything right, it would be intimidating. I love that he can make mistakes but realize his errors and fix it for next time. I love that we are imperfect together.

19. He’s strong! When we met, he used to go to the gym every weekday! He has very muscular arms, which I love! I always feel protected with his arms around me.

20. He demands respect for me. Again, sometimes this is an annoying one, but I appreciate why he does it. When I go out dancing, he’s always trying to be sure I’m adequately ‘covered up’ so no other men leer at me or say/think disrespectful things about me. He says, “You’re too smart and capable to have men looking at you con morbo”.

21. He has incredible faith. I have always been a ‘seeker’ when it comes to my beliefs about God and the afterlife. He just believes. I don’t understand how he does it, but I kind of envy it. It’s amazing to witness.

22. He always looks good. Usually better than me. He takes a lot of pride in his appearance; but not to a point of vanity. He just makes sure he’s always looking sharp, smelling good, and with a smile on his face!

23. His smile! Once, a girlfriend of mine from Spain was visiting with her mother, aunt and sister. She knew Luis but her family members didn’t. Her mother and aunt commented that Luis’s ‘eyes smile’. I know exactly what they mean!

24. He’s changed me for the better. We are polar opposites in many ways – and both kind of extreme – so the influence that we have had on each other, and especially him on me, has been very positive. (Example: My car used to be a virtual trash heap…now, due to his influence, I keep it clean and take better care of it!)

25. He always encourages me to reach for my dreams. This spring, I brought up the possibility of starting to work on a second master’s degree. He doesn’t have a college degree yet, and I asked him what he thought of me going for a second master’s when he hasn’t had a chance to go to college. He told me to go for it and that he’d be behind me all the way!

We wouldn’t go through all the hardship and heartache for these men out of ‘desperation’. It just so happens that my media naranja was born South of the Border. God chose him for me…I just had to do a little work to get him!

I hope you enjoyed my list – I’d love to see one from you as well!

Hi ladies!

Well, even though our Cancun wedding is not a sure thing yet, I'm already starting to think about our 'look' and I'm a little torn.

I know we will be using teal as our main color to go along with the sea, of course.

Our wedding, however, will be pretty simple. Probably no bridesmaids or groomsmen. Basically just us and my bouquet will be the 'color splash' to pull it all together. So here's where I need your help.

Do I go with callas with a teal ribbon to keep it classic and simple?

Or do I go with bright, fun tropical colors like lime green, bright orange or fuschia to go along with the tropical theme of our location?

Check out the pics and let me know your opinions! Thanks for reading!

Niagara Falls has been sooo fun and is incredibly beautiful. It was a perfect reminder of hows much we love each other and why we are together!

As promised, here's the rest!

So we left at 5am on Saturday morning and my hubby, being the great guy that he is, drove nearly the entire seven hours! He even let me take a nap, even though he had worked the night before and I hadn't!!

As we passed through New York, we got stopped for speeding. The trip will now cost about $100 more than we expected, but we didn't let it damper our spirits. The scenery was absolutely gorgeous on the way up.

We arrived around noon and checked into our B&B, Elizabeth House Bed & Breakfast. It was the perfect place to stay. Debbie and Perry were so sweet and hospitable. They even put a bottle of champagne in our room when we got back from dinner. It's small, personal and antique-y! Adorable! I highly recommend!

Anyway, so we dropped our bags off and headed out for a walk. We ate lunch at the Top of the Falls restaurant. I got a buffalo chicken wrap and he got wings. When in Buffalo, as they say... =) We then went on the Cave of the Winds tour which was sooo cool! You get right down next to where the American Falls crash onto the rocks. We also took a ride on the Maid of the Mist. Our favorite part was probably when the boat got right in the middle of Canada's Horsehoe Falls. We were soaking wet, but it was so awesome to see how powerful and beautiful the water was. Due to wind and wetness, we were a bit cold, so from there we headed back to the B&B where we got cleaned up and set off to the Canadian side for dinner.

We had dinner at the Keg Restaurant on the 9th floor of the Embassy Suites. Absolutely killer view. Food was excellent, too, but a bit pricey.

From there, we walked around a bit...hit up a casino and lost some money...lol then we headed back home with our cheesecake to commemorate our wedding cake. Then we found the champagne. It was delicious and sooo thoughtful!

The next day we got up late, ate a yummy breakfast at the B&B and wen to church at the oldest Catholic church in Niagara Falls, St. Mary of the Cataract. Then we headed across the border again to check out the view from Skylon Tower. We then took a walk on the Canadian side of the falls and took tons of pictures.

We headed home around 5pm and arrived back in Baltimore by midnight! And today...Day One of the move to our new apartment!!! So excited to be in and settled!!!

One year ago today, Luis and I tied the knot!!

It hasn't been an easy year, but it has shown us that marriage takes self-sacrifice, commitment and communication. We have grown so much together and I can't wait to see what the future brings for us...

But for now...bring on the Falls! We're off to Niagara! Have a great day, everyone!!!

I've lived in my apartment for nearly five years. I moved here with a good friend in 2007. Since then, I've had a number of roommates and houseguests and Luis moved in here when he came back from Mexico.

So now, due to some issues with neighbors and some great luck with a coworker, we are getting our FIRST PLACE TOGETHER!

Now, why is that a big deal? Well...up until now, he's been living in my place. Not said in a rude way, but I'm sure he didn't feel any 'ownership' in this apartment. This new place is going to give us a chance to build a home together!

And I am SO EXCITED!!!

Anyway, enough news for today but just wanted to share!!

This year has been a little tough on us. Luis got back, we got married, and then immediately he struggled to find a job and then his parents moved in.

Sharing a two bedroom apartment between four people, especially when you are newlyweds...a BIG no-no!

But, gracias a Diosito, we are in a great place right now. We were going to stay in town and go out for a nice dinner to celebrate our first year casados but the Mr. had a different idea.

Luis: What about Niagara Falls?
Julie: What about it?
Luis: For our anniversary? What do you think?
Julie: Can we afford it? How much would it cost?
Luis: (Looking online) It would be about $100 for gas and like $150 to stay...I think it's worth it. It would be cool! And it's been a tough year - we deserve it!

And there it is, folks! Tomorrow, we are headed north! And since the Mr. has a green card now - we will be visiting both the US and Canadian falls!! Woot!